GTI Global Transparency Initiative

Accountability and International Financial Institutions - Deepening transparency and opening political space

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GTI Develops Model Policy for World Bank Transparency

27th May 2009

GTI has developed a Model World Bank Disclosure Policy that delineates the approach which we believe an IFI disclosure policy should take. It provides a strong statement of the right to information, alongside practical provisions to give effect to this right, including:

  • A commitment to the automatic disclosure of a wide range of information, including to facilitate participation in decision-making.
  • Clear and progressive rules on the processing of requests.
  • A narrow regime of exceptions (constraints) based on a clear risk of harm to protected interests and a public interest override.
  • A broad right to appeal refusals to disclose information to the Inspection Panel, an oversight body which is independent of Bank management.
  • A strong and yet practical set of promotional measures to ensure fulsome implementation of the policy.

GTI has submitted the Model Policy for consideration by the World Bank as it reviews its information disclosure policy.

Please click here to download the Model Policy in English (Adobe Acrobat format).

Related resources

GTI Model World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information
Published 27th May 2009 by GTI

GTI Comments on World Bank Transparency Approach Paper

27th May 2009

GTI provided detailed comments to the World Bank on its Approach Paper "Toward Greater Transparency: Rethinking the World Bank's Disclosure Policy." GTI welcomes the Bank’s call for a “paradigm shift” in access to Bank-held information, and its commitment to move to a true presumption of openness, whereby all Bank information is accessible, subject only to a list of narrow and clearly defined exceptions.

Our analysis of the Approach Paper, however, as detailed in our Comments, indicates that the Bank’s concrete proposals fail to implement this stated commitment in practice. Some of the GTI’s key criticisms of the proposals are:

  • The lack of a clear vision on the links between openness, poverty reduction and the Bank’s overarching “empowerment” mandate.
  • An overly broad regime of exceptions which grants third parties a veto over disclosure and which are not harm-based.
  • The absence of a proper test for disclosure in the overall public interest.
  • The failure to provide for an independent appeals body.
  • The lack of clear progress on timely access to information for participation in decision-making, in particular for project affected peoples.

Please click here to download GTI's Comments (Adobe Acrobat format).

Related resources

GTI Comments on World Bank Transparency Approach Paper
Published 27th May 2009 by GTI

GTI World Bank Transparency Review Update 3

9th April 2009

The World Bank launched a review of its Policy on Disclosure of Information on March 13, 2009, with the posting of an "Approach Paper." Update 3 provides brief comments on the strengths and weaknesses of the Bank's proposals.

Please click here to download the update in English (Adobe Acrobat format).

Related resources

GTI World Bank Transparency Review Update 3 (Arabic)
Published 22nd April 2009 by GTI
GTI World Bank Transparency Review Update 3 (English)
Published 9th April 2009 by GTI
GTI World Bank Transparency Review Update 3 (French)
Published 14th April 2009 by GTI
GTI World Bank Transparency Review Update 3 (Russian)
Published 15th April 2009 by GTI

GTI World Bank Transparency Review Update 2

17th March 2009

The World Bank launched a review of its Policy on Disclosure of Information on March 13, 2009, with the posting of an "Approach Paper." The paper outlines several forward looking principles for the new policy as well as a number of potential limitations on access to information. An eight-week comment and consultation period runs until May 8. Dates and places of in-country consultations will be announced shortly.

Related resources

GTI World Bank Transaprency Review Update 2 (Bahasa Indonesia)
Published 17th March 2009 by GTI
GTI World Bank Transparency Review Update 2 (English)
Published 17th March 2009 by GTI
GTI World Bank Transparency Review Update 2 (French)
Published 20th March 2009 by GTI

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